Helping you grow, learn and increase your success
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The Intermediary Academy is a training initiative, established in conjunction with the Utility Intermediaries Association.
It offers online training sessions on the power market and the product and services within it. The Academy is designed to upskill Third Party Intermediaries working in the energy sector, by providing information and insight to help you advise your clients on the best solutions to achieve their business objectives. It’s part of our commitment to supporting the Intermediary community.
Topics covered
Energy contracts and tariffs
How to understand and compare different electricity tariffs, contract types (fixed, flexible) and terms (demand shifting).
Energy efficiency solutions
Providing TPIs with knowledge about energy-saving strategies and technologies (such as on-site generation solutions).
Energy procurement strategies
Techniques for negotiating, securing, and managing competitive energy deals for clients.
Future of the energy industry
Trends like decarbonisation, smart grids, and the role of technology in shaping the future of electricity supply.
Data analytics and reporting in energy
How to leverage data to provide insightful energy usage reports and identify opportunities for clients.
Demand response and flexibility
Understanding demand-side management services and how businesses can benefit from flexible energy usage.
Because expertise is part of the partnership.
We would like the Intermediary Academy to be as helpful as possible to TPIs, so we welcome suggestions of other areas you might like covered in future training sessions. If you have a suggestion on a topic, you can email academy@conradenergy.co.uk.
Insightful sessions
Conrad Energy organise events throughout the year to meet with our team and the wider TPI network. Opportunities for face-to-face learning and the sharing of tips and best practice are designed to support your growth.
To find out more about dates and planned content for in-person events, including our annual TPI conference, please visit the events page here.
Our previous online events
Session 1 – November 2024
Going green: how to help your clients achieve their sustainability goals without breaking the bank
As ESG and sustainability becomes, not just a desirable objective for businesses, but also a regulated necessity for some, how do you provide the best advice on energy options to help them achieve their goals.
This session covered:
- The ways that companies can decarbonise their energy usage
- The advantages and disadvantages of each technology
- The ‘shades of green’ – how sustainable is each option in reality
- The cost impacts of using different green technologies
- How to combine options in the best way to deliver a cost-effective green solution
- The indirect benefits of going green from a business perspective
Session 2 – February 2025
The art of purchasing electricity – 101
This back-to-basics session, offered attendees valuable insights to help them and their team navigate the complexities of the electricity market.
This session covered:
- Understanding the electricity sector
- Electricity market fundamentals
- Key players in the electricity market and their roles
- Navigating the complexities of electricity market trends
- Electricity procurement basics
- Understanding your customer’s objectives
- Understanding electricity contracts and pricing
- How to negotiate with electricity suppliers
- Fixed vs flexible contracts: choosing the right option
- Thinking beyond supply
- Practical skills for Intermediaries
- Building supplier relationships in the electricity sector
- Analysing and comparing supplier offers
- Managing risks in electricity purchasing
Session 3 – November 2025
Turning compliance into a competitive advantage
During the session, our speakers explored the key compliance challenges and opportunities shaping the TPI market.
This session covered:
- Dispute Resolution for TPI Codes of Practice
- Key standards
- Dispute Resolution: Energy Ombudsman’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Scheme
- Going above and beyond: TPI Codes of Practice
- DESNZ’s recent consultation on the regulation of TPIs and what it might mean for you
- The role of Ofgem
- Avoiding other legal issues
- Legal considerations or other areas of legal concern
- Understanding key contract clauses
- Access to support and training
Session 4 – December 2025
Unlock the power of flexible energy contracts
This session covered:
- Setting the scene: the energy market landscape
- Current trends, volatility, and the need for flexibility
- How businesses are adapting in real time
- What is a flexible electricity supply contract?
- Flex vs fixed: what’s the difference?
- Tranche buying and the importance of timing
- The benefits of flex: control, risk management & sustainability
- Reduce exposure to price spikes
- Make smarter purchasing decisions
- Align energy buying with sustainability goals
- What to consider before making the switch
- Market knowledge, pitfalls to avoid, and how Conrad Energy supports TPIs and customers
- How TPIs can add value and benefit from the flexible space
- Educating clients and building trust with data
- Opportunities for partnership with Conrad Energy
Session 5 – January 2026
Licence Exempt Supply: understanding the risks and leveraging the rewards
This session covered:
- The fundamentals of Licence Exempt Supply
- What Licence Exempt Supply is and how it works
- Why P442 matters and what’s changed
- How the market is evolving
- New metering and settlement rules
- How these changes impact existing and future LES arrangements
- Emerging business models
- Private wire schemes
- Onsite PPAs and alternative supply structures
- Commercial, contractual and risk considerations
- Key risks for TPIs and customers
- What to watch for in contracts and commercial structures
- Real-world case studies
- Practical customer examples
- Lessons learned from live projects
Session 6 – April 2026
Behind the bill. Decoding non-commodity costs.
This session covered:
- Why wholesale costs often account for only 35-50% of an I&C electricity bill
- How contract structure affects customer risk and price certainty
- How to compare supplier quotations accurately
- How to explain bill changes clearly and credibly
- How transparency builds long-term trust and retention
Session 7 – May 2026
When markets react to global news: How to advise clients with confidence.
This session covered:
- What’s driving short-term market volatility
- How trading desks respond when markets shift
- What clients are asking, and how to answer clearly
- How to advise without perfect information
- Practical procurement strategies in volatile conditions